Will of Mathias Ziegenfuss

submitted by Alan Eckert ceckert@cox.rr.com on Monday, January 29, 2001

January 26, 1807 - #3492, page 245

I Mathias Ziegenfus of Richland Township Bucks County state of Pennsylvania Yeoman being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory Do make and put In Writing this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to wit, first I order and direct my executor hereinafter named to pay all past debts and funeral expenses. 2ly I will and bequeath unto my wife Margaret a bed, bedsteads, and appurtenances thereunto belonging , a Iron pot, -----tub and bucket and all my Pewter ware knives and forks three tea cups and saucers and a milch cow she to have her choice to be at her won disposal forever and meal and meat sufficient for one year - 3ly I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law, Martin Althouse twelve pounds to be paid to him within one year after my decease, it being agreeable to promise I made him for a creature lost at my house some time ago. 4thly. It is my will and I do order and direct my executors hereinafter named to expose to public sale and sell all my plantation with the appurtenances situate in Richland Township aforesaid Together with all my personal estate not hereinfor bequeathed and thereby authorize and empower my Executors herein after named to make and execute a good and sufficient Title or deed of conveyance unto the purchaser or purchasers of my aforesaid Plantation. 5thly It is my will and I do order after sale my just debts and the above Legacies are paid that my Executors put out one third part of all my estate real and personal which may remain a good sufficient security and that they pay the Interest thereof yearly and every year unto my wife, Margaret, during the time she remains my widow. 6thly. I give and bequeath the remaining two thirds of my said estate unto my children namely, - George, John, Adam, Henry, Peter, Abraham, Elizabeth, Catharine, Mary , Christina to be equally divided between them share and share alike or their respective heirs and assigns and after the decease or marriage of my wife, I give and bequeath the other one third of my said estate unto all my aforementioned children to be divided among them equally as afore described or their respective heirs. - 7thly . It is my Will that if I should remain any length of time at my son Henry’s in the weakly state that I am now in, In which case I request my trusty friends Everard Foulke, Hugh Foulke , and Benjamin Foulke to adjudge him my son Henry a reasonable compensation then for which sum my Executors are hereby directed to pay him as a part of my debts - Lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my sons Adam and Henry Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made and ratifying this and no other to be my last will and Testament. In Witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty second day October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six. Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at his request have signed our names as witnesses thereof.. N.B. the alteration in the 2nd Item was made before the signing hereof..

J. Shimer, Everard Foulke

Mathias Zeigenfuss

Sucks, ss January 26, 1807 before me appeared J. Shimer and Everard Foulke the subscribing witnesses to the adjoining Instrument of writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Mathias Zeigenfus, deceased when the said J. Shimer on his solemn oath and the said Everard Foulke on his solemn affirmation did declare and say that they were personally present at the Execution thereof and saw and heard the Testator therein named, sign and seal , publish and declare the same as his last will and Testament and at the time of his doing he was of sound mind and memory and understanding to the best of their belief. Wm. Hart, Reg., Bucks ss Be it remembered that on the 26th day of January A.D. 1807 the adjoining Testament and last Will of Mathias Zeigenfus decd. was duly proved according to law when Letters Testamentary were granted unto Adam Zeigenfus and Henry Zeigenfus Executors in said Testament named having been first qualified well and truly to administer the goods and chattels and credits of said deceased and in one month from the date hereof to Exhibit into the Registrar’s office of said County a true Inventory and conscionable appraisement thereof and in one year or when thereunto lawfully Required to render a just account of their whole administration - In Testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid. Registered January 26th 1807